Texas AAUP and National AAUP successfully advocated for tenured Associate Professor Mickie Mwanzia Koster to receive full due process from The University of Texas at Tyler. Without advocacy from AAUP, Professor Koster would have been dismissed on Nov. 1, 2023 after receiving a 15-day termination notice on Oct. 16th. Prof. Koster remains employed at UT Tyler.

On Oct. 16, 2023, Dr. Mickie Mwanzia Koster, a tenured Associate Professor of History of Africa and the African Diaspora at UT Tyler, received a 15-day notice of termination of tenure without due process.  She contacted us at Texas AAUP on Monday, Oct. 23rd, and we sprang into action:

• Texas AAUP alerts AAUP National on 10/23/2023
• AAUP National letter to the UT Tyler President on 10/25/2023 AM
• Texas AAUP letter to the UT Tyler President on 10/25/2023 PM
• Texas AAUP advocates on social media and through news outlets on 10/26/2023 and 10/27/2023
• UT Tyler President decides to give due process per email to UT Tyler faculty, Texas AAUP and AAUP National on 10/28/2023 PM
• Dr. Mickie Mwanzia Koster’s response on 10/28/2023 PM
• UT Tyler rescinds the termination date of Oct. 31, 2023, and will provide due process under UT System policies including a faculty grievance hearing per email sent on 10/30/2023 PM

Dr. Koster has asked the Texas AAUP Conference to serve as her faculty advocate and spokesperson for her case, and we are.

About AAUP.  We champion academic freedom, advance shared governance, and organize all faculty to promote economic security and quality education.  Founded in 1915, AAUP jointly developed principles on academic freedom, tenure and shared governance with college and university administrations that have been widely adopted by US colleges and universities. Join AAUP.